Kenny, Elizabeth (1880-1952), an Australian nurse, developed a method of treating poliomyelitis (see Poliomyelitis). Kenny was born on Sept. 20, 1880, in Warialda, New South Wales. She became a nurse in Australia's bush (remote countryside). One day, an epidemic of poliomyelitis struck, and Kenny could not get medical help. This led her to work out her own method of treating the victims. She found that prompt application of hot woolen packs relieved muscle spasms and usually prevented the patient from becoming crippled.